Have you started putting up holiday decorations or even your Christmas tree yet? This weekend, as part of my youngest daughter's birthday, we put up our tree. Usually we wait until Thanksgiving to do, but she asked this year, and seeing that the girls have been sick lately and laying around a lot, I thought seeing the tree from the couch would be a great way to boost their spirits. I don't know about you, but there is something magical about a Christmas tree all done up with its lights and ornaments. Once it is up, you can't help but smile while looking at it.
To make the day more festive, I had a homemade holiday potpourri I found on Pinterest the other day, and had it simmering on the stove. The potpourri was so easy to make, and would make for a great gift idea for co-workers, as a swap, or added to gifts you give to family and friends. Here is the recipe if you want to give it a try -- it really does makes the house smell amazing. :-)
Holiday Stovetop Simmer Spices
(Visit the website above and print off the instruction tag for FREE)
In addition to making the house smell great, I also pulled out some holiday books, movies and a new game we were recently sent to review, to enjoy with the girls. My parents were done to celebrate Bella's birthday, so it was nice having a bigger crowd around the table for family game night. :-)
Have you heard of The Christmas Star from Afar game?
"The Christmas Star From Afar is a fun and unique game that teaches children about the true meaning of Christmas. Each day during the week before Christmas kids search for the Star for a fun hide-and-seek game (like Elf on the Shelf) and once it’s been located they move the Three Wise Men to its location for that day, until they reach their final destination at the stable with newborn baby Jesus. The Christmas Star From Afar includes a book, wooden Star, a full wooden nativity scene that matches the artwork of the book, and optional scripture to use throughout the month. https://starfromafar.com."
----
This was the perfect game to share with my girls, as I wanted to remind them the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate this day. Yes, it is nice to have the Christmas tree up and have a visit from Santa, but this is not the real reason why we and so many other families celebrate Christmas. Prior to setting up this game for the girls to play, we set up our nativity scene and added our nativity ornaments to the tree. As we were doing these things we talked about baby Jesus, the star that shone bright in the sky for the three wise men to follow and the real reason for Christmas. My girls were really getting into the nativity scene and talking to my parents about baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. My parents were smiling as they heard talking about the birth of baby Jesus, and how this is why we celebrate the day.
When we were done setting up everything, I told the girls I had a fun new game for them to play that aligned with the nativity scene they had just set up, and ornaments we had just put on the tree. I said that we would be incorporating this into our annual holiday traditions going forward, and that were so excited to find out what the "The Christmas Star from Afar" game was all about.
If you plan to start a new tradition with your family using this game, then you will moving the star around the house day during the week of Christmas until the three wise men reach the stables. I wanted to review this product for you so that you have time to order and receive in time for the holidays, so I did things a little different. I first started by reading the book that comes with the box set -- also includes the full wooden nativity scene figures, a wooden star and optional scripture to use throughout the month. I really liked how the figures you receive in the set match up with the story you read to your child, as this is great for little ones to help relate to the story and then see the figures up close.
After we read the book I told the girls I would be hiding the "star from Afar" and that they would have to find it. And, once they found it, they would be moving the three wise men closer to the stable where baby Jesus lay. What child doesn't love a game of hide and seek? My girls couldn't wait for me to hide the star. I ended up hiding the star 6 times and each time they found the star they were reminded that this start was the brightest star in the sky and helped the three wise men find their way to Bethlehem. Instead of hiding the star for a seventh time, I put the star on top of the manger roof and had the girls move the three wise men to the manager to complete the nativity scene.
I told the girls that we did a different version of the game just to see how this new tradition would go, but that we would follow the instructions that are included in the back of the book the week of Christmas. Instead of hiding the star over and over again in one day, I will do it every night before bed, and when they wake in the AM the next day, they will look for it. Once the star is found, they will move their three wise men closer to the manager. Over the course of the week, the three wise men will inch closer to their final destination -- the stable where baby Jesus lay. On Christmas Eve I will be adding the star to the stable roof and when they wake on Christmas morning before racing to the tree, they can bring the three wise men to the stable. We will then talk about the importance of the birth of our living God, and that he was the best present anyone could ever hope for.
Doesn't this sound like a fun new tradition to start with your family, to remind kids and adults about the true meaning of Christmas? I know that we can all get caught up in the hoopla that is Christmas when we start our holiday shopping and that, but we all need to stop and remember the true meaning of Christmas -- and "The Christmas Star from Afar" is the perfect way to do this, to help kids understand and appreciate the Christmas. I really like how this set includes everything you need to incorporate this into your family's holiday traditions. Like I said, you get a hard cover book to share the story of baby Jesus and true meaning of Christmas, as well as the wooden star to hide each day and the nativity set to set up. My girls had so much fun playing the Nativity scene after all the pieces were where they were supposed to be. They acted out the story of baby Jesus again with the pieces, before I put the pieces back in the box to put away for the week of the Christmas. My girls can't wait for that week to arrive, so that they can go on a daily hide and seek of the wooden star. And, I know that when they see me pulling out "The Christmas Star from Afar" that they will be reminded about the true meaning of Christmas right at the peak of the craziness of the season.
If "The Christmas Star from Afar" sounds like a fun new tradition you want to share with your family, make sure you head on over to https://starfromafar.com and order this set today for only $34.99 , so you have it in time for Christmas week. I can't wait to share this game with my girls this year and for many years to come. And, I know that once you see this set up close, you will, too!
Disclosure: I was sent a sample from the vendor in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
No comments :
Post a Comment